MAJOR Heel Turn On WWE Raw (WWE News)

WWE Raw saw the Kabuki Warriors turn on Iyo Sky.

by Andrew Pollard
WWE Raw Asuka Kairi Sane Iyo Sky Kabuki Warriors
WWE

After weeks of teasing something, WWE finally pulled the trigger on a full-blown Asuka - and kinda Kairi Sane - heel turn on last night's Raw.

With the Empress of Tomorrow having spent her night berating Iyo Sky for losing to Stephanie Vaquer at WWE Wrestlepalooza, proclaiming La Primera to be an awful Women's World Champion, and then exchanging heated words with Rhea Ripley, that set in motion a Raw main event of Asuka vs. Ripley.

In that main event, it was Mami emerging victorious, getting a roll-up win after miscommunication between Asuka and Kairi Sane. Post-match, Asuka spat blue mist in Rhea's face, which was followed by a two-on-one beating of the Australian powerhouse by the Kabuki Warriors. That prompted Iyo Sky to run out to make the save for Rhea, and she was welcomed with a hug from Asuka.

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Unfortunately for Iyo, that hug was merely a ruse, as Asuka hit a spinning backfist on Sky, then ordered a hesitant Kairi Sane to join in with the attack. Clearly conflicted, Sane eventually rained down fists on the fallen Iyo, and later hit her patented Insane Elbow on Sky after Asuka had Iyo back to her feet.

Recent weeks have seen a more aggressive, stern Asuka bullying Kairi and having issues with Iyo Sky and pretty much anybody Iyo spoke to. Now, with Sky having come up short in her quest to win the Women's World Title at Wrestlepalooza, that was seemingly the breaking point for Asuka, with the veteran fully turning heel and laying out her now-former friend.

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With WWE Crown Jewel taking place in Perth, Australia next month, one has to imagine that Rhea Ripley will be on that PLE in some form or fashion. And now, it looks like that 11 October event could well see Rhea teaming with Iyo Sky to take on the Kabuki Warriors - although, expect plenty more interactions between those pairings before Crown Jewel, of course.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.